2 part ride to Chessington & Twickenham

Part 1. A mostly Sunny morning, after 3 late cancellations, a small group of 6 left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, North cheam, – with a rubbing Mudguard soon adjusted-, Cheam Park, Nonsuch Park (Photo), Stoneleigh, West Ewell, to Chessington, for lunch at the William Bourne (Stonegate pubs), Bonesgate path, Tolworth, – with time in hand, I had thought we might try part of the newly installed Cycle path on Ewell Rd, but 1 of the group said not worth it yet-, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Sub total 16 Miles thanks to Mike F for back marking.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2806965.

Part 2. Slightly warmer, still sunny, farewell to 1 , welcome 2 fresh faces with 1 no show, 7 Cyclists left a very congested Market place via Union St, Skerne Rd, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate Richmond Park, Petersham gate, Richmond, Richmond Bridge, Isleworth, -a rather busy Cole park area with people walking to Twickenham Rugby ground for the match against Argentina-, St Margarets, to Marble hill Park cafe- just in time as they were about to close-, for Tea & refreshments, Twickenham Riverside- but not the Embankment, now closed for muchy needed improvement works-,Twickenham, Fulwell, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Sub total 14 Miles, Total 30 Miles, Thanks to John W for back marking, no afternoon Photo. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2031066

Midweek ride to Ashtead

Wednesday 19th November. A cold damp start, not too surprising that 6 late cancellations, including 1 who got the wrong train! Just 12 Cyclists in 1 group, left via Portsmouth Rd, -alas a coming together of 2 Bikes, with 1 having a jammed front Brake, about to abandon the ride when Ta-da somehow Magician John managed to free it-, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmille, Cobham, Downside, Bookham Common, Fetcham, Leatherhead,- now with a cold Headwind, Brrr-, to Ashtead for lunch at the Woodman (Ember Inns), more Ashtead, Woodcote, Rosebery Park (Photo), Epsom, – with the prospect of an Al-fresco Tea stop, not too inviting, a small splinter group still wanting to use the original route, via Nonsuch Park-, the main party continued via Ewell village, West Ewell, to Tolworth Court Garden centre Cafe, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 28 Miles, special thanks to Mags for leading the Splinter group, thanks to Toni & John E for sharing the back marking duties. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1306141

Bread pudding ride to Northolt

Sunday 9th November. A Bright if slightly chilly Morning, more overcast & a slight headwind afternoon. With 1 no show (possibly lost somewhere in the town, we did speak a little later, but couldn’t quite meet up), with 1 unexpected guest, 22 Cyclists, split into 2 groups, leave via Kingston Bridge, Teddington, Strawberry hill, Twickenham, Kneller Gardens, Whitton- 1 more for group 1-, also pausing for the 2 minutes Silence, then 2 readings from Andrea E, firstly 3 verses from ‘in Flanders Fields’, (John McRae), then 1 verse from ‘for the Fallen’ (Laurence Binyon), Hounslow, Isleworth, Osterley, Osterley Park (Photo Group 2), Norwood Green, Southall, Northala Fields, to Northolt for lunch at ‘the Crown’ (Sizzling Pubs), – a small slip approaching the Bridge over the Canal, soon remounted-, a short bit of Grand union Canal path (Photo group 1), Greenford, Perivale, Pitshanger Park, North Ealing, Ealing Common, South Acton, Chiswick Green, Grove park, Chiswick Bridge, Mortlake, to Palewell Common, – with perfect timing, Ranjeet had just closed, but very kindly agreed to serve some Tea, Hot Chocolate & other refreshments-. Sheen gate Richmond Park, -sadly we observed the Ambulance service attending to a fallen Cyclist, (not 1 of us)-, Ham gate, Latchmere, to finish back in Kingston. 30 Miles, special thanks to Andrea C for leading group 2, thanks to Chris F & Andrea E for back marking each group.Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3153734

Bread Pudding ride to Pyrford Lock

A Bright but Chilly day, with some light drizzle as we finished, after 1 cancellation, 1 un-cancellatiion, 1 no show, 19 Cyclists split into 2 groups, via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton- 1 more for group 1 (20)-, East Molesey, West Molesey, Walton, Weybridge, Brooklands Park, Byfleet village, Wisley to Pyrford Lock for lunch at the Anchor (Hall & Woodhouse), a bit more Wisley, Wisley Bridge, Ockham, Hatchford, Cobham, (Photo Group 2), Fairmile, to Claremont Lakes for Tea & refreshments, Esher, Littleworth Common (Photo group 1), Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, 2 new faces, special thanks to Celia for leading group 2, thanks to Steve F & Andrea C for back marking each group.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2006267

Midweek ride to Hanwell

Wednesday 15th October. After 2 late cancellations, 14 Cyclists left via London Rd- alas the tail end got detached, another person almost got lost looking for the tail, soon all back together-, Norbiton, Kingston gate Richmond Park, Sheen gate, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, Strand on the Green, Brentford- a navigational mix up, hence a detour via Carville Hall Park-, Gunnersbury Park, to make up a bit of time another detour, South Ealing, past Ealing Studios, West Ealing, Churchfields Park (Photo), to Hanwell for lunch at the always splendid Fox, -more woe, the ‘P fairy’ had paid a visit during lunch, but soon repaired-, Grand Union Canal Towpath, -pausing briefly to see IK Brunel’s last project, the Three Bridges, (Railway at the bottom, Canal, with a Road Bridge on top)-, Norwood Green, Osterley Park, Osterley, Isleworth, Cole park, Twickenham, the Railway roughs path, to Kneller Gardens for Tea & refreshments, Fulwell, Bushy Park, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 28 Miles, thanks to Toni for back marking, thanks to Mags for being ready to lead a 2nd group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2240956

Churchfield Park, with the Wharncliffe viaduct (Brunels Great Western)

Challenge ride to Chislehurst

Sunday 12th October, A mostly overcast Morning, with More Sunlight in the afternoon, after 3 late cancellations, & 2 no shows, we settled on just 1 group, instead of the 2 planned, 12 Cyclists left New Malden, via the Beeline, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, Merton park, Morden Hall Park, Mitcham- joined by 1 more-, Norbury, Thornton heath- 1 more-, Heavers Meadow, South Norwood, Norwood Country Park, Beckenham, Beckenham Place Park, Downham, Plaistow, Elmstead, to Chislehurst for lunch at the Queens Head (Ember Inns)- joined by 1 of the no shows (15)-, a bit more Chislehurst, Jubilee Country Park (Photo), -a few loose Acorns, led to a tumble, swiftly re-mounted-, Petts wood, Southborough, Norman Park, Pickhurst, West Wickham, Shirley, Addiscombe, to Lloyd Park Cafe for Tea & refreshments & a rendition of Happy Birthday for Nigel, South Croydon, Waddon, Beddington, Beddington Park, Hackbridge, the Wrythe, Benhilton, Pyl Brook path, North Cheam, Motspur park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 43 Miles, Special thanks to Nigel for being ready to lead group 2, thanks to Chris F for back marking, 1 new face. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3123458

Kingston’s completing two Cycleways! 🎉

Following a long pause, construction has restarted to finish two of Kingston’s long planned Cycleways:

Cycleway 29 (Kingston to Tolworth) – construction is taking place to fill in a 600m gap in safer cycling provision along Ewell Road on the Surbiton/Tolworth border.
Cycleway 32 (Kingston to New Malden) – construction of improved cycling facilities has just started on a 1.4km stretch of road along Cambridge and Kingston Roads.

*New Cycleway in construction on Ewell Road*

Kingston Cycling Campaign are delighted that construction is finally taking place to finish these Cycleways that have been in development for more than a decade. When complete, the Kingston to Tolworth Cycleway will stretch almost 7km from Kingston Station to Tolworth Broadway along a mix of separated cycle paths and quiet roads. Finishing this Cycleway creates the beginning of a Cycleway ‘spine’ route from North to the South of the Borough. It also connects to Cycleway 28 (Kingston High Street towards Long Ditton) and Cycleway 30 (Kingston to Kingston Vale)

Cycleway 32 currently begins from Cycleway 30 near Asda on London Road before ending a couple of hundred metres later along Cambridge Road. When complete, the Cycleway will continue past the Cambridge Road Estate (over 4,000 cycle parking spaces due to be installed as part of its redevelopment), past Kingsmeadow and the proposed new secondary school before ending close to the Fountain junction in the centre of New Malden. Along the way, it also gets very close to the beginning of Cycleway 31 which takes people on bikes (and those walking) along a mostly traffic free route to Raynes Park. Whilst much of Cycleway 32 will include cycle lanes which are separated from other vehicles, part of it will unfortunately involve people cycling sharing a lane with buses. We will be asking Kingston Council to monitor this carefully and to make further improvements if necessary.

The completed Cycleways will offer improvements for people walking too, with three new zebra crossings to be installed and a crossing at Hawk’s Road junction made easier for pedestrians too. After these have been finished, there will have been 20 new zebra crossings installed along Kingston’s Cycleways so far. Improvements will also be made at some side roads to make it clear that people walking (and cycling) have priority over motor vehicles when crossing the road.

When will the new Cycleways be finished?

Construction on both routes is expected to last until mid to late 2026 with works being planned around other major roadworks in the Borough.

What might be next?

Kingston Council has also applied for funding from Transport for London to commence initial feasibility studies on other potential Cycleways in the Borough. Whilst the original ‘Mini-Holland’ Cycleways will be complete after these works, the network will still not not cover many parts of the Borough including North Kingston (Kingston Station towards Ham), South of the Borough (Surbiton/Tolworth towards Hook and Chessington) as well as to Old Malden and Worcester Park.

Fountain junction in New Malden also remains a dangerous place for people walking and cycling and we hope the Council will take further steps to improve safety there.

In the meantime, Kingston Cycling Campaign will continue working with the Council to make further improvements to the current and planned Cycleways to enhance safety and usability for those on a bike or on foot.

Special Tribute for Bai ride

Sunday 28th September. A mostly overcast day, with occasional light drizzle, after 2 late cancellations, & 1 unexpected guest, 22 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Skerne Rd, North Kingston, Norbiton, New Malden, Malden Manor, Cuddington, Auriol Park- busy with many youngsters coming & going from Football games-, Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park, East Ewell, Higher Green, Epsom Downs, Tatttenham Corner, to Tadworth, for lunch at the Blue Anchor (M & B),- 5 more joined (27)-, Walton on the Hill, Walton Heath, Lower Kingswood, to Chipstead for a very special extended Tea stop at our good friend Andrea’s home & Woodland Garden- also joined by a few non Cycling friends-, after a few speech’s in tribute to Bai, more Chipstead, Banstead, East Ewell, Ewell village, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 32 Miles, special thanks to Andrea E for hosting the delightful Tea stop, special thanks to Andrea C for leading group 2, thanks to Chris F & Celia for back marking each group. The Photo montage page is still open, if you have any memories to share; https://photos.app.goo.gl/oZCgUjcP3UeWnQva6

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3075810

Midweek ride to Pimlico

Wednesday 17th September. With just a few drops of drizzle, after 1 late cancellation, & 1 unexpected guest, – including 1 person who forgot the starting point,- 16 Cyclists leave on the Beeline, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, South Wimbledon, Wandle Trail- with a minor Gear change issue, soon fixed-, Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, Stockwell, Vauxhall, to Pimlico for lunch at the White Swan (McMullens), Westminster- thankfully before the ‘anti Trump protest march’-, Victoria Embankment (C3), Southwark Bridge (C7), also C14 & C10, Burgess Park (Photo), Loughborough, Brixton, Brockwell Park, Tulse Hill, Streatham Hill, to Tooting Bec Common for Tea & refreshments, Tooting, Colliers wood, Morden Hall Park, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 30 Miles, 2 new faces, special thanks to Ellie for back marking at short notice. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3104112

Evening ride to Twickenham

Wednesday 10th September, with some light Drizzle, after 1 late cancellation & 1 unexpected guest, 7 Cyclists left via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, Petersham gate, Richmond, Richmond Bridge, St Margarets, Isleworth, Whitton, to Twickenham for refreshments at the Sussex Arms, also meeting a few other old friends, then Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in Kingston. Total 12 Miles. Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/837624

Kingston Cycling Campaign

Promoting safer and more enjoyable cycling in South West London and beyond